Container that prevents from an illegal operation and can be easily identified after being illegally operated

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a container that prevents illegal operations and can be easily identified after being illegally operated. The container has a tension-breaking type buckle member having an annular tear line including connecting ribs and slits spaced apart from the annular tear line. A longitudinal line is defined by the middle point of the outer edge of the pull piece extending through the center point of the annular tear line, and the center of the annular tear line defines horizontal and longitudinal lines orthogonal to each other. The container further includes a weakening strength unit of tear line with a first weakening slit formed on both sides of the annular tear line close to the two sides of the pull tab. The extension length of the first weakening slit is between the angle range of plus or minus 15 to 20 degrees with the horizontal line as the center point.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a container, and moreparticularly to a container that prevents illegal operations and can beeasily identified after being illegally operated.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

Thin-wall plastic containers (hereinafter referred to as “containers”)are normally produced by vacuum forming. There are a variety of suchcontainers in the marketplace. They are made into different shapes, suchas the shape of a box, a cup, or a bowl, and are very suitable to beused as packaging containers for instant food (e.g. cooked food orpeeled fruits). Apart from the advantages of low production cost andrecyclability, their transparent design allows consumers to clearly seethe food held inside.

A conventional container usually has a box body and a cover body. Thebox body and the cover body can either be integrally formed, connectedto each other on one side, or be separately formed. However, no matterin which form, in order for the cover body to seal the box body to keepthe food fresh during exhibition, there are usually matchingconfigurations of concave and convex portions on the box body and thecover body to fix them together. Such configurations facilitatepackaging and allow repeated opening and closing.

As the box body and the cover body of a conventional container are fixedtogether only by the simple configurations of concave and convexportions, it may cause a problem that some consumers might maliciouslyopen the packaging and such behaviors may not be easily discovered.Various measures are taken to cope with this problem. Some sellers use astapler to bind the edges of the box body and cover body, and consumersneed to remove the staples by themselves after they have bought the foodproduct. However, in such cases, most consumers tend to open thecontainer by force, resulting in damage of the box body or cover body bythe staples, and the regret that the container cannot be repeatedlyused.

Some other manufacturers have developed a kind of container that allowsconsumers to pull open the container only from a preset buckle portionand pull tab between the box body and cover body of the container. Oncethe pull tab is pulled open, the buckle portion will break due to thedesign of a ring tear line on its periphery and be retained in a slot,so that the market management or the checkout staff can identify if thecontainer has been illegally opened. Such a conventional structuraldesign allows repeated usage, and can avoid damages of other parts ofthe container. However, in actual applications, it is found thatidentification of illegal opening is still not easy. Even if the pulltab is pulled open, it may be recovered due to the elasticity ofplastics, and because most containers are made of transparent plastics,the breakage of the buckle portion may not be easily identified. Hence,if someone maliciously opens the packaging and then closes the coverbody to return the container to its original state, the pull tab mayalso be recovered to its original position and flat state. Thetransparency of the container will further make it difficult for marketmanagement and checkout staff to identify if the buckle portion has beenopened. Therefore, such a design still has not perfectly solved theproblem that illegal opening of the container cannot be easilyidentified.

On the other hand, in the conventional pull tab, the connecting ribs ofthe ring tear line are usually designed with even intervaldistributions. Therefore, when the pull tab is pulled, the resistancepoints are relatively evenly distributed. As a result, after opening,when the pull tab turns up under the resistance of the connecting ribs,it will have a smooth bending. Such a smooth bending state may add tothe difficulty in identification of illegal opening. So the designshould be improved.

Moreover, when the pull tab is pulled open, damages of the container mayoccur due to excessive resistance when the evenly distributed connectingribs are too far away from the center point of the circle formed by thering tear line. This problem will cause difficulty and inconvenience ofopening of the container product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a container thatprevents illegal operations and can be easily identified after beingillegally operated. It aims to make a breakthrough and creatively solvethe technical problems in developing a new structural design of acontainer product that will be ideal and practical.

Based on the aforesaid object, the problem-solving technical features ofthe present invention lie in that the container comprises:

-   -   a box body, including an opening and a first joining edge        configured around the opening;    -   a cover body, optionally covering the opening of the box body,        the periphery of said cover body configured with a second        joining edge to fit the first joining edge configured on the box        body;    -   a pull tab, formed on the second joining edge of the cover body,        protruding outward, said pull tab including an external end edge        and two side edges;    -   a tension-breaking type buckle member, including a buckle convex        portion configured on the pull tab, a buckling slot configured        at a position on the box body for the buckle convex portion to        align and fix, and a ring tear line configured on the periphery        of the buckle convex portion, thus, when the pull tab is pulled,        the ring tear line will break and leave the buckle convex        portion in the buckling slot, said ring tear line including a        plurality of connecting ribs circularly distributed with        intervals, and a plurality of slits relatively formed between        the neighboring connecting ribs in a hollowed-out state;        moreover, the peripheral area of the buckle convex portion of        the pull tab and the peripheral area of the buckling slot of the        box body are pushed together face to face, under the        face-to-face contacting state, the pull tab protrudes outside        the first joining edge of the box body to facilitate pulling,        whereas the ring tear line is correspondingly configured inside        the first joining edge of the box body; furthermore, extending        from the center point of external end edge of the pull tab to        the center point of the circle formed by the ring tear line, a        longitudinal line is defined, and the center of the ring tear        line further defines a horizontal line, said horizontal line and        said longitudinal line being orthogonal to each other;    -   a pull tab strength weakening portion, configured on the        structure of the pull tab, formed in a flat state, capable of        bending, wherein the ring tear line is configured around the        periphery of the buckle convex portion at an interval, so that        the pull tab strength weakening portion is constituted by the        narrow area existing between the ring tear line and the side        edge of the pull tab, said pull tab strength weakening portion        being used to cause the pull tab to have a bent portion when        pulled up, so that the pull tab will turn up for easy        identification; and    -   a weakening strength unit of the tear line, at least including a        first weakening slit, said first weakening slit formed on the        two sides of the ring tear line close to the two side edges of        the pull tab, the extension length of said first weakening slit        being between the angle range of plus or minus 15 to 20 degrees        with the horizontal line as the center point.

The effects and advantages of the present invention mainly include thefollowing:

-   -   1. Through the differentiated interval configuration of the        weakening slit of the weakening strength unit of the tear line,        the strength weakening portion of the pull tab can have a        bending state obviously different from other parts of the pull        tab. This is a practical advantage and advance to enhance the        effect of identification of opening.    -   2. When the pull tab is pulled up, the special design of the        weakening strength unit of the tear line can effective avoid        damage of the pull tab due to excessive resistance at the        connecting points of the ring tear line, and can therefore        extend the life cycle of the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view 1 of a preferred embodiment of thecontainer according to the invention, showing the state wherein thecover body is opened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view 1 of a preferred embodiment of thecontainer according to the invention, showing the state wherein thecover body is closed.

FIG. 3 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a 4-4 sectional view of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the pull tab portion of the preferredembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pull tab according to the inventionwhen it is not pulled up.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pull tab according to the inventionwhen it is pulled up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment of a container thatprevents illegal operations and can be easily identified after beingillegally operated. However, such an embodiment is for the purpose ofillustration only and is not intending to limit the scope of theinvention.

The container comprises: a box body 10, including an opening 11 and afirst joining edge 12 configured around the opening 11; a cover body 20,optionally covering the opening 11 of the box body 10, the periphery ofsaid cover body 20 configured with a second joining edge 22 to fit thefirst joining edge 12 configured on the box body 10; a pull tab 30,formed on the second joining edge 22 of the cover body 20, protrudingoutward, said pull tab 30 including an external end edge 31 and two sideedges 32; a tension-breaking type buckle member 40, including a buckleconvex portion 41 configured on the pull tab 30, a buckling slot 42configured at a position on the box body 10 for the buckle convexportion 41 to align and fix, and a ring tear line 43 configured on theperiphery of the buckle convex portion 41, thus, when the pull tab 30 ispulled, the ring tear line 43 will break and leave the buckle convexportion 41 in the buckling slot 42, said ring tear line 43 including aplurality of connecting ribs 431 circularly distributed with intervals,and a plurality of slits 432 relatively formed between the neighboringconnecting ribs 431 in a hollowed-out state. Moreover, the peripheralarea of the buckle convex portion 41 of the pull tab 30 and theperipheral area of the buckling slot 42 of the box body 10 are pushedtogether face to face. Under the face-to-face contacting state, the pulltab 30 protrudes outside the first joining edge 12 of the box body 10 tofacilitate pulling, whereas the ring tear line 43 is correspondinglyconfigured inside the first joining edge 12 of the box body 10.Furthermore, extending from the center point of the external end edge 31of the pull tab 30 to the center point of the circle formed by the ringtear line 43, a longitudinal line L1 is defined, and the center of thering tear line 43 further defines a horizontal line L2, said horizontalline L2 and said longitudinal line L1 being orthogonal to each other. Apull tab strength weakening portion 50, configured on the structure ofthe pull tab 30, is formed in a flat state, capable of bending, whereinthe ring tear line 43 is configured around the periphery of the buckleconvex portion 41 at an interval, so that the pull tab strengthweakening portion 50 is constituted by the narrow area existing betweenthe ring tear line 43 and the side edge 32 of the pull tab 30, said pulltab strength weakening portion 50 being used to cause the pull tab 30 tohave a bent portion when pulled up, so that the pull tab 30 will turn upfor easy identification; a weakening strength unit of the tear line, atleast including a first weakening slit 432 a, said first weakening slit432 a formed on the two sides of the ring tear line 43 close to the twoside edges 32 of the pull tab 30, the extension length of said firstweakening slit 432 a being between the angle range (θ1) of plus or minus15 to 20 degrees with the horizontal line L2 as the center point.

Based on the structural designs and technical features described above,the actual application of the present invention of a container thatprevents from an illegal operation and can be easily identified afterbeing illegally operated is as shown in FIG. 5. The differentiatedintervals of the weakening slit of the weakening strength unit of thetear line will cause the strength weakening portion 50 of the pull tabto have a bending state different from other parts of the pull tab 30.That is to say, when the pull tab 30 is pulled up, as illustrated inFIG. 6 and FIG. 7, there is a change of state. When acting on thesection where the intervals between the connecting ribs 431 and slits432 are normal, the pull tab 30 will curve upward to a certain degreeunder the resistance from the connecting ribs 431. However, when actingon the section corresponding to the first weakening slit 432 a, theaforesaid resistance will suddenly disappear. As a result, during thissection, the pull tab 30 will have an obviously different bending state.Then, when the pull tab 30 is continuously pulled up, crossing the firstweakening slit 432 a to another section where the intervals between theconnecting ribs 431 and slits 432 are normal again, the pull tab 30 willhave a different bending state again. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, thebending of pull tab 30 from the front end to the rear end of the firstweakening slit 432 a will have an inconsistent curve, losing smoothness.Thus, from the outside, the pulled and up-turning state of the pull tab30 can be clearly identified. On the other hand, when the pull tab 30 ispulled up, due to the design of the weakening strength unit of the tearline, the connecting ribs 431 will not be too far away from thelongitudinal line L1, and there will no longer be the problem that thepull tab 30 may break under the excessive resistance from the connectingribs 431 of the ring tear line 43, and the operation of the pull tab 30will be more convenient and easier. In this respect, there is one pointto be detailed: in the section where the first weakening slit 432 a areformed on the two sides of the ring tear line 43, the conventionalstructure normally arranges 2 to 4 connecting ribs. However, in thissection, according to tests carried out by the patent applicant, theresistance from the connecting ribs against the pulling of the pull tab30 is the strongest, and it is the most difficult to break theconnecting ribs. The reason is that, apart from the positions of theconnecting ribs that are far away from the pulled position, causinginefficient transmission of the pulling force, the connecting ribs herewill be kind of twisted under the pulling force, and the elastic andresilient plastics will not be easily broken under the twisting.Therefore, the resistance in this section is strongest and may causecracking of the pull tab 30. This is why the present invention adoptsthe technical feature to form a first weakening slit 432 a on the ringtear line 43 to overcome the existing problem.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the weakening strengthunit of the tear line further includes a second weakening slit 432 b,said second weakening slit 432 b formed at the side of the ring tearline 43 close to the external end edge 31 of the pull tab 30, theextension length of the second weakening slit 432 b being between theangle range (θ2) of plus or minus 15 to 20 degrees with the longitudinalline L1 as the center point.

Referring to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the weakening strength unit ofthe tear line further includes a third weakening slit 432 c, said thirdweakening slit 432 c formed at the side of the ring tear line 43 awayfrom the external end edge 31 of the pull tab 30, the extension lengthof the third weakening slit 432 c being between the angle range (θ3) ofplus or minus 15 to 20 degrees with the longitudinal line L1 as thecenter point.

Furthermore, the extension lengths of the first weakening slit 432 a,the second weakening slit 432 b and the third weakening slit 432 c areequal to the distances between their respective neighboring connectingribs 431. The descriptions here are to explain the different structuraldesigns of the first weakening slit 432 a, the second weakening slit 432b and the third weakening slit 432 c from another perspective. In fact,they are all relatively defined by the intervals between two neighboringconnecting ribs 431.

I claim:
 1. A container that prevents from an illegal operation and canbe easily identified after being illegally operated, said containercomprising: a box body, including an opening and a first joining edgeconfigured around the opening; a cover body, optionally covering theopening of the box body, the periphery of said cover body configuredwith a second joining edge to fit the first joining edge configured onthe box body; a pull tab, formed on the second joining edge of the coverbody, protruding outward, said pull tab including an external end edgeand two side edges; a tension-breaking type buckle member, including abuckle convex portion configured on the pull tab, a buckling slotconfigured at a position on the box body for the buckle convex portionto align and fix, and a ring tear line configured on the periphery ofthe buckle convex portion, thus, when the pull tab is pulled, the ringtear line will break and leave the buckle convex portion in the bucklingslot, said ring tear line including a plurality of connecting ribscircularly distributed with intervals, and a plurality of slitsrelatively formed between the neighboring connecting ribs in ahollowed-out state; moreover, the peripheral area of the buckle convexportion of the pull tab and the peripheral area of the buckling slot ofthe box body are pushed together face to face, under the face-to-facecontacting state, the pull tab protrudes outside the first joining edgeof the box body to facilitate pulling, whereas the ring tear line iscorrespondingly configured inside the first joining edge of the boxbody; furthermore, extending from the center point of external end edgeof the pull tab to the center point of the circle formed by the ringtear line, a longitudinal line is defined, and the center of the ringtear line further defines a horizontal line, said horizontal line andsaid longitudinal line being orthogonal to each other; a pull tabstrength weakening portion, configured on the structure of the pull tab,formed in a flat state, capable of bending, wherein the ring tear lineis configured around the periphery of the buckle convex portion at aninterval, so that the pull tab strength weakening portion is constitutedby the narrow area existing between the ring tear line and the side edgeof the pull tab, said pull tab strength weakening portion being used tocause the pull tab to have a bent portion when pulled up, so that thepull tab will turn up for easy identification; and a weakening strengthunit of the tear line, at least including a first weakening slit, saidfirst weakening slit formed on the two sides of the ring tear line closeto the two side edges of the pull tab, the extension length of saidfirst weakening slit being between the angle range of plus or minus 15to 20 degrees with the horizontal line as the center point.
 2. Thecontainer that prevents from an illegal operation and can be easilyidentified after being illegally operated defined in claim 1, whereinsaid weakening strength unit of the tear line further includes a secondweakening slit, said second weakening slit formed at the side of thering tear line close to the external end edge of the pull tab, theextension length of the second weakening slit being between the anglerange of plus or minus 15 to 20 degrees with the longitudinal line asthe center point.
 3. The container that prevents from an illegaloperation and can be easily identified after being illegally operateddefined in claim 1, wherein said weakening strength unit of the tearline further includes a third weakening slit, said third weakening slitformed at the side of the ring tear line away from the external end edgeof the pull tab, the extension length of said third weakening slit beingbetween the angle range of plus or minus 15 to 20 degrees with thelongitudinal line as the center point.
 4. The container that preventsfrom an illegal operation and can be easily identified after beingillegally operated defined in claim 2, wherein said weakening strengthunit of the tear line further includes a third weakening slit, saidthird weakening slit formed at the side of the ring tear line away fromthe external end edge of the pull tab, the extension length of saidthird weakening slit being between the angle range of plus or minus 15to 20 degrees with the longitudinal line as the center point.
 5. Thecontainer that prevents from an illegal operation and can be easilyidentified after being illegally operated defined in claim 1, whereinthe extension lengths of said first weakening slit and said secondweakening slit are equal to the distances between their respectiveneighboring connecting ribs.